Universal measuring device for medical application

ABSTRACT

Measuring device for medical application, comprising a first part provided with measuring means for measuring data of a patient, and a second part provided with communication means for sending the data, wherein the first part can be releasably connected to the second part, characterized in that the communication means are wireless.

The invention relates to a measuring device for medical application,comprising a first part provided with measuring means for measuring dataof a patient, and a second part provided with communication means forsending the data, wherein the first part can be releasably connected tothe second part.

Known from the international patent application WO 02/07595 is aconnector unit for receiving a disposable catheter for performingurological measurements. In the catheter is arranged a pressure sensorfor measuring diverse pressure-related data. The connector unit can beconnected by means of electrical wiring to peripheral equipment for thepurpose of sending the data thereto.

It is a general object of the invention to provide a universal measuringdevice for medical application with an increased number of possibleuses.

The measuring device according to the invention has the feature that thecommunication means are wireless.

The possible uses are considerably increased through the application ofwireless communication, because of the fact, among others, that thepatient and the peripheral equipment do not have to be located in thesame space. In addition, the measuring device according to the inventionis extremely easy to use, which increases user convenience to asignificant extent. The absence of wires moreover increases the freedomof movement of the patient to a significant degree.

In a first preferred embodiment the first part is a disposable article.The measuring device is hereby based on the principle of once-only useor use by one patient at most, and thereby satisfies the highestrequirements in respect of hygiene.

In a second preferred embodiment the first part is embodied as acassette, and the second part is embodied as cassette holder. Themeasuring device according to the invention is compact, thereby furtherenhancing user convenience.

The invention will be elucidated hereinbelow on the basis of embodimentsand with reference to the drawings,

IN THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 shows in perspective view a first preferred embodiment of themeasuring device according to the invention;

FIG. 2 shows the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 with the parts takenapart; and

FIG. 3 shows the preferred embodiment of FIG. 1 with connections in apractical situation.

Corresponding components are designated in the figures with the samereference numerals.

FIG. 1 shows a measuring device 1 comprising a cassette 2 which isreceived in a cassette holder 3. Cassette 2 is provided with measuringmeans, which in this preferred embodiment are adapted to perform liquidpressure measurements in the field of urology. The measuring meanscomprises three catheters 4 which are each provided with three ports,i.e. a first port 5 a, 5 b, 5 c for connection of a catheter tube 6 a, 6b, 6 c (see FIG. 3), a second venting port 7 and a third port 8 in whichis arranged a pressure sensor (not shown). The catheters are furtherprovided with a two-way tap 9 and a non-return valve 10. Such a catheteris described at length in the above stated international patentapplication WO 02/07595 which is interpolated herein through reference.

It is noted in this respect that the catheters 4 are preferablyintegrated into the cassette. The cassette is provided with recesses onwhich a close-fitting casing is placed in liquid-tight manner, therecesses and casing together forming the catheters 4. The components ofthe catheters and the function thereof corresponds however to that ofthe known catheters, to which reference has been made above.

Cassette 2 can be connected releasably to holder 3 by means of aconnector 13, this being illustrated in FIG. 2. It is noted that manytypes of suitable connector are available commercially for releasableconnection of the cassette and the holder.

During use the cassette 2 comes into contact with bodily fluids of thepatient and is intended as a disposable article. The cassette ispreferably provided with a power supply, for instance in the form ofbatteries. In order to prevent reuse, the lifespan of the power supplyis geared to the anticipated measuring time required by the measuringmeans. The lifespan is preferably chosen such that the intendedmeasurement can be performed only once on a patient. The cassette issealed liquid-tight.

Holder 3 is provided with wireless communication means. Thecommunication means comprise at least one transmitter, for instance aradio frequency transmitter 11. All peripherals with a suitable receivercan receive and/or process the data sent by the holder. Examples of suchperipherals are computers, such as personal computers, includinglaptops, as well as electronic agendas, the so-called palmtop. Ifdesired, the communication means can also comprise a receiver,preferably a radio frequency receiver. Suitable wireless communicationmeans are per se known and available commercially. Use is preferablymade of a protocol for monitoring the completeness and/or reliability ofthe received data. Such protocols are per se known and availablecommercially in the form of software and/or hardware. An example ofsuitable wireless communication means is the Blue Tooth® system of IBM.

Holder 3 is further provided with electronics for reading themeasurement values of the pressure sensor and converting thereof intodata suitable for transmission. Holder 3 comprises for this purposemeans for digitizing the data. The holder can also comprise apre-amplifier. Such electronics are commercially available and thereforeknown to a skilled person in the field.

Holder 3 is also provided with means for attaching the holder to apatient, such as adhesive electrodes (not shown), and is suitable forstationary and ambulatory use. Holder 3 is suitable and intended forreuse. It can be cleaned simply in usual manner, for instance with a wetcloth. The holder can be made splashproof by liquid-fight sealing of theconnector for the cassette

FIG. 3 shows measuring device 1 in a practical situation. A cathetertube 6 a for rectal measurement of the abdominal pressure is connectedto port 5 a. A catheter tube 6 b for simultaneously measuring thepressure in the urethra and in the bladder is connected to ports 5 b and5 c.

The measuring device according to the invention is described in thecontext of urological applications. It will however be apparent to askilled person in the field that the measuring means can if desired bereplaced by diverse other measuring means for use in other fields ofmedical science. An example of such measuring means are means formeasuring electrophysiological data, for instance measuring electrodes.The measuring device is then suitable for performing a generalelectrophysiological examination, such as ECG measurements andgastroenterological measurements. The skilled person will have nodifficulty whatever in also using other, per se known measuring means incombination with the above described measuring device.

In FIG. 3, in addition to the catheters, two measuring electrodes 12 areconnected to cassette 2 to perform ECG measurements.

The invention is of course not limited to the shown and describedembodiment but comprises any embodiment falling within the scope of theappended claims as seen in the light of the accompanying drawings.

1. Measuring device for medical application, comprising: a first partprovided with measuring means for measuring data of a patient; and asecond part provided with communication means for sending the data,wherein the first part can be releasably connected to the second part,characterized in that the communication means are wireless.
 2. Measuringdevice as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first part is a disposablearticle.
 3. Measuring device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the firstpart is embodied as a cassette, and the second part is embodied ascassette holder.